Method of and apparatus for surfacing inking rolls



p 1940. F. H MARSHALL 2,213,712

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACING INKING ROLLS Filed Aug. 9, 1957 4 Sheets -Sheet 1 m 870% 2% Warsfi 0/4 A7 W Mm, W22

TTo xpe sept- 3,.1940. F. H. MARSHALL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACING INKING ROLLS Filed Aug. 9, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 3, 1940. F. H. MARSHALL. 2,213,112

METHOD OF AND-APPARATUS FOR SURFACING INKING ROLLS Filed Aug. 9.1957 4 Sheets-Sheet a ENVENT'OQ/ ran/V Q/Warshcfl/ E Wm OMAN 215mm (flwowsys Sept. 3, 1940. MARSHALL 2,213,712 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACIKG INKING ROLLS Filed Aug. 9,1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 39am? Wars/7 Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACING INKING ROLLS Application August 9, 1937, Serial No. 158,037

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the surfacing of inking rolls for printing presses with a thin film of composition which congeals on cooling from a molten state and has more particular reference to a method and apparatus of the type in which the roller is rotated with its axis inclined and is coated by applying molten composition substantially in excess of the amount required to form the final surface film beginning at the upper end of the roller and progressing downwardly along the latter.

The primary object of the present invention is to increase the capacity of roller surfacing apparatus heretofore used through the .provision of a novel method and apparatus by which a plurality of rollers may be coated simultaneously without the use of duplicate equipment.

A more detailed object is to provide a novel method and apparatus of the above general character by which asecond roller may be surfaced simultaneously with the coating of a first roller .by utilizing the excess of molten composition applied to and draining from the first roller.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the apparatus which facilitates loading and unloading of the several rollers from the same side of the apparatus, which permits of adjustment of the apparatus to accommodate rollers of different diameters, and by which the number of added parts are reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an apparatus for surfacing rollers in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail section through a part of the nozzle drive mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view.

a Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the flow of the molten composition during a,

coating operation.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs 6, 8, and 10 are fragmentary elevational views showing different parts of the rollers during a coating operation.

Fig. 12 is a section taken along the line l2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 illustrating another modified method and apparatus.

Fig. 14 is a section taken along the line i l-l4 of Fig. 13.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications, I have illustrated in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment and method of practicing the invention. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative methods and constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings, the invention is shown for purposes of illustration embodied in machines for applying'a thin film 6 of molten printers composition to the surface of a plurality of base rolls 1 and I each comprising a layer of rubber or the like carried by a shaft 8 the ends of which project beyond the rubber. Molten composition in a quantity sumcien't to coat several rollers is contained in a tank. 9 and heated to and maintained at a uniform temperature by a water jacket [0 to which heat is supplied in any suitable way. A mixture of water, glue and glycerine commonly known as printers composition may be used to form the film S. employed is approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit at which temperature such composition will flow very freely. While being coated, the roller l is supported above the tank by a suitable framework II including an inclined rail or bar l2 supporting a laterally projecting arm [3 which is adjustable longitudinally of the roll to accommodate rollers of difierent lengths. The arm provides a bearing ll for rotatably supporting the upper end of the. roller shaft 8, the other end of which is received in a chuck l5 carried by and rotatable with'a shaft l6 supported by the machine framework in a bearing ii. To permit of axial adjustment of the chuck I5, the latter is threaded onto the shaft i6 and locked in adjusted position by a nut It. .The shaft l8 carries a sprocket l9 driven through a chain 20 from a sprocket 2| loose on a shaft 22 and driven from a constant speed electric motor 23 through gears 24, a chain 24, and suitable speed reduction mechanism 25.

Molten composition is withdrawn from the tank by a constant delivery gear pump 26 driven 'from'the motor 23 and discharging the composition through a pipe 21 and a flexible hose II, the rate of flow from the latter being regulated by a The temperature preferably by-pass valve 29. The molten composition thus 55 delivered at a uniform rate is applied to the roller 1 by means of an applicator which, in the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, comprises a nozzle 30 disposed in vertical position with its lower end located a short distance above the roller so as to direct a stream 3| onto the roller surface. During a coating operation, the nozzle is preferably offset laterally from the center of the roller in the direction of movement of the upper surface of the rollerso that the, stream 3| strikes the downwardly moving surface as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The nozzle is supported through a swivel joint 32 and. may be swung laterally of the roller by moving a handle 32 The joint communicates with a right angular extension 34 of a pipe 35 connected to the hose 28. The pipe extends through and is supported for axial adjustment by a lug 36 on a carriage 31 arranged to slide along the. rail l2.

Extending through the carriage is a screw 38 rotatably supported in bearings 39 on the machine frame. A partial nut 40 slidably mounted on the carriage 31 isurged into engagement with the screw by a spring 4| and may be retracted and latched in disengaged position by manipulating a projecting knob 42. At its lower end, the screw carries a sprocket 43 driven through a chain 44' from a sprocket 45 rotatablewith the sprocket 2|.

While the motor 23 is running, the roller drive shaft I6 and the screw 38 will rotate in synchronism, and molten composition will be withdrawn from the tank and discharged from the nozzle 30 at a uniform rate of flow correlated with the speed of the roller drive shaft and screw. The arrangement is such that molten composition at a temperature of approximately 150 degrees will flow from the nozzle at the rate of approximately three and one-half gallons per minute, the roller will be turned at approximately sixty revolutions per minute, and the nozzle will be moved along the roller at approximately thirteen inches per minute when the carriageis connected to the screw. For a purpose to appear later, the bearing l4 and the chuck l5 are constructed to support the roller at an angle of approximately eighteen degrees to the horizontal.

The apparatus described above is adapted for the coating of one roller during each operating cycle which involves movement of the composition nozzle along the roller from the upper to the lower end thereof. To increase the production capacity of the apparatus without substantial duplication of parts, the present invention contemplates the coating of one or more additional rollers simultaneously by utilizing for this purpose the excess of molten composition whichis applied to the fir'stroller. Advantage is thus taken of the fact that this excess drains from thefirst' roller in a well defined position, without appreciable reduction in temperature and at a uniform rate of flow suflicient to provide the excess required the machine frame for rocking 'movement. The

arm 5| is thus adjustable longitudinally of the shaft 22 to accommodate rollers of different lengths. The lower end of the second roller is received in a chuck 52 on a shaft 53 which is journaled in bearings 54 on the free ends of arm 55 fast on the rock shaft 22.

By rockingthe shaft 22 about its axis, the

second roller may be moved bodily and vertically relative to the upper roller so as to permit rollers of different sizes to be positioned in the desired spaced relation. The adjusted position is maintained by a screw 56 which threads through a block 5'! connecting the arms 55 and bears at its upper end against a part 58 on the machine frame. By turning a crank 59 on the screw, the lower roller mounting may'be raised and lowered as desired.

The lower roller 1' is rotated at the same speed as the upper roller. To accomplish this in all positions of {adjustment of the lower roller, a sprocket 60 rotatable with the sprockets 2| and 45 is connected by a chain 6| to a sprocket 62 fast on the shaft 53. The driving connection thus formed remains uninterrupted during pivotal adjustment of the lower roller.

In order that the composition will be applied to the lower roller at substantially the same point as to the upper roller, the former is offset hori- Zcntally from the latter in a direction opposite and substantially equal to that of the nozzle 30. Withthe rollers thus positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the stream 66 formed by the excess of molten composition draining from the under side of the upper roller will strike the downwardly moving portion of the lower roller surface. If desired, the mounting for one of the rollers may be constructed to permit of lateral adjustment so that the degree of offset between the two rollers may be changed as desired.

To avoid any detrimental effect that might result from the slight change in direction of the stream 66 which occurs when the stream reaches the extreme lower end of the cylindrical portion of the roller 1 and encounters the conical portion l the lower roller is shifted in an axial direction relative to the upper roller as shown in Figs. 6 and 10 and in an upward direction. The extent of shift is such that the stream 66 passes the lower end of the cylindrical portion of the lower roller and encounters the conical end portion thereof before the stream reaches the lower cylindrical end of the upper roller.

During a coating operation, the two rollers may be supported only a fraction, for example one-half or more, of an inch apart as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 or several inches as shown in Figs. 6 to 10.

Preparatory to coating, the two rollers are loaded onto their respective bearing supports and, by turning the crank 59, the lower roller.

is raised to the desired position adjacent the upper roller. The nozzle carriage is then slid along the rail |2 to the upper end of the rollers and, by operation of the motor 23, molten composition is circulated for a brief interval through the circulating system with the nozzle discharging directly into a trough 64 above the tank. Then, the nut 40 isengaged with the screw 38.

To initiate the operation proper, the operator swings the handle 32 to position. the stream 3| closely adjacent the shaft of the upper roller and thereby directs molten composition onto the conical upper end portion l of the lower roller as illustrated in Fig. 6. A: the nozzle advances,

- clination of the roller.

stream 65 begins to form. The large excess of molten composition which is thus applied assumes the form of a thick collar 61 which encircles the roller adjacent the point of application to the roller and progresses downwardly therealong due to natural drainage induced by virtue of the in- The roller surface is thus heated uniformly so that the film 6 which is retained by continued drainage and congeals gradually upon cooling is of accurate uniformity in thickness. All of the excess which would otherwise fall from the under side of the collar 61 is transferred onto the lower roller in the form of the stream 66 and forms a similar thick collar 68 around this roller adjacent the point of application. When the two rollers are spaced close together as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the two collars 61 and 68 are in peripheral contact with each other through a short distance. With either a close or more remote spacing of the rollers, the stream 66 will form in a. position such that most of the molten composition will strike the lower roller at a point offset from the center and on a downwardly moving portion of the surface as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The collar 68 progresses down along the lower roller in the same way as the collar .61 and, by drainage of the excess from the lower roller, a thin film is retained and finally congeals thereon.

Before the nozzle 30 reaches the lower end of the upper roller, the stream 66 will have passed the lower end of the roller 1 and encountered the tapered portion I thereof. In this way,

coating of the lower roller is completed by the time the tapered portion of the u per roller is reachedby the'stream 66. Any 0 ange in the direction of the latter has no effect on the uniformity of the film retained on the lower roller.

With, the parts arranged as described above and under the preferred conditions of composition flow, roller rotation, and nozzle travel above set forth, the collars B1 and 68 move downwardly in unison with each other and with the nozzle 3ll, and there is no substantial run-down of the molten composition on either rollersur-' face ahead of the collars proper. As a result, the flow of molten composition onto the roller surfaces is controlled accurately, and each unit area is heated with the uniformity required for the formation of a finished filmof uniform thickness. This advantageous action and the elimination of objectionable run-down of the molten composition are obtained in part by the use of composition in a very fluid state resulting from heating to approximately 150 degrees and by inclining the rollers at a smaller angle, such as eighteen degrees, than that employed heretofore. In addition, the streams 3i and 66 are applied to downwardly moving portions of the roller surfaces thereby reducing the tendency of the stream to spread out on the surface adjacent the point of initial contact. The amount of horizontal offset betweenthe composition streams and the axes of the respective rollers is correlated with the other factors mentioned above and is sufficient to avoid running down of the molten composition more than the short distance shown ahead of the point of application to the roller surface,

It will be observed from the foregoing that all of the molten composition which would otherwise drain along and fall from the under side of the upper roller is transferred to the lower roller shortly after its discharge from the nozzle. Thus, molten composition in the desired excess and flowing at a uniform rate is applied forms a thick collar 16 around the roller.

to the lower roller without appreciable reduction in temperatures and at a point which progresses down the latter at a uniform rate. Accordingly, the composition is applied at a uniform temperature, at a uniform rate of flow, and at a point which travels at a uniform rate along the roller which is rotated at a uniform speed. All of these four factors contribute to the formation of a final film of accurate uniformity in thickness on the lower roller.

T; will be observed that coating of the second or lower roller in the manner above described is affected without the interposition of any parts between the rollers, the two being mounted in a manner such that all of the composition draining from the first roller is applied at the proper point on the second. Similarly, no means is required for eliminating objectionable run-down of the composition ahead of the points of application to the roller. Thus, the production capacity of coating apparatus of the type used heretofore has been multiplied substantially two-fold merely by the addition of mechanism for supporting and rotating the second roller. The present arrangement of the parts is also advantageous in that both rollers may be loaded into and unloaded from the machine by an operator standing on one side thereof. Handling of the rollers is thus facilitated and a minimum of floor space is required.

The excess of the composition applied to the lower roller falls from the-under side of the collar 68 as indicated at 10. In the present instance, this is caught by the trough 64 and is returned to the tank. It will be apparent, however, that this excess may, if. desired, be utilized for surfacing a third roller in the same manner that the second roller is coated by the excess from the first. In this way, a further increase in the capacity of the machine may be obtained.

It is contemplated that the molten composition may be applied to one roller and the excess transferred to another in various other ways.

For example, as shown in Figs. 11 to 14, the composition flowing from the nozzle 30 may be dis-f charged upwardly against the under side of one roller. To this end, an upwardly opening trough "may be arranged to underlie and partially encircle one roller. Herein, the trough is clamped to the end of the nozzle 30 so as to move with the carriage 31 and receives the molten composition discharged from the nozzle. Attached to the forward side wall 12 of the trough is a strip 13 of flexible material such as rubber which bears against the roller surfaces and prevents molten composition in the trough from overflowing in a direction downwardly along the roller. The other wall I4 curves around the roller surface but is spaced therefrom so that the composition may overflow upwardly along the under side of the roller and form a stream 15, the composition in the trough always being maintained at a level substantially above the under side of the roller. Since the ends of the trough are open, some of the molten composition discharged upwardly against, the under sideof the rolleradheres and The composition thus applied drains down along the roller following the movement of the trough leaving the thin film 6 which congeals upon cooling. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the trough III is disposed below the lower roller 1' and the latter is, by adjust .ment of its supports, disposed in such close proximity to the upper roller that thecollar I6 onto the surfaceof the former roller.

will contact the surface of the latter.- In this way, a quantity of molten composition substantially in excess of that required to form the final film will be transferred to the surface of the roller 1 and will assume the form of a collar 11. Drainage of this collar down along the roller results in theformation thereon of the thin final film. When the second roller is coated in this manner,'it should,of course, be supported with the ends of its cylindrical surface disposed directly opposite the ends of the surface of the first roller. j

Another method of simultaneously coating a second roller is to utilize the excess of molten composition overflowing from the trough 1|. This method, which is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14,1 involves mounting the second roller 1 beneath the roller 1 and directing the stream 15 For this purpose, the roller 1' may be mounted directly beneath the roller 1 or, an auxiliary trough 18 may be attached to the wall 14 and arranged to lead the stream 15 to the desired point of application on the lower roller. The molten composition thus discharged onto the lower roller forms a thick collar 19 which moves downwardly along I the roller'and results in the formation of the final film in the manner previously described, the excess falling as a stream 80 from the under side of the roller.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination,

means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in inclined position, means rotatably supporting a second roller adjacent the first roller to turn about an axis substantially parallel to and disposed beneath the first roller, an applicator mounted for movement along the rollers for flooding molten composition onto the upper one of 1 the rollers whereby to form a thick collar of com position thereon, a quantity of such composition draining from the under side of the upper roller being transferred to the second roller to form a similar thick collar of molten composition thereon, means for rotating said rollers in unison, and means for moving said applicator from the upper to the lower end of the rotating rollers.

2. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in inclined position, means rotatably supporting a second roller adjacent the first roller to turn about an axis substantially parallel to the latter, an applicator mounted for movement along the roller for applying a quantity of molten composition to each unit area of one roller substantially in excess of that required to 'form a film of the desired thickness, means for rotating said rollers, and means for moving said applicator from the upper to the lower end of the rotating rollers, the excess of composition applied to the cator and without substantial run-down of the composition ahead of the applicator. A

3. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coatedin inclined position, a support for a second roller mounted to swing about an axis extending lonable longitudinally of said rollers and operable to fiow molten composition onto one of said rollers in excess of the amount required for coating the latter, the excess being transferred onto the second roller for coating the latter.

, 4. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in inclined position, means rotatably supporting a second roller to turn about an axis substantially parallel to the first roller and disposed so that at least some of the excess of molten composition applied to one roller will be transferred to a corresponding portion of the other roller, an applicator mounted for movement along the roller for applying a quantity of molten composition to each unit area of one roller substantially in excess of that required to form a film of the desired thickness, the second roller being coated simultaneously by the excess of composition so applied, means for rotating said rollers simultaneously, and means for moving said applicator from the upper to the lower end of the rotating rollers.

5. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in inclined position, an applicator mounted for movement lengthwise of said roller for directing a stream of molten composition onto a downwardly moving portion of the roller which portion is offset horizontally from the roller axis, means supporting a second roller to be coated to turn about an axis extending parallel to the first roller and disposed therebelow so that all of the excess of molten composition draining from the under side of the first roller will be directed onto a downwardly moving portion of the second roller surface o-fiset horizontally from the center .of the second roller, means for rotating said rollers in unison, and means for moving said applicator from the upper to the lower end of the first roller.

6. Apparatus for coating a roller with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting the roller in inclined position, means rotatably supporting a cylinder to turn about an axis substantially parallel to said roller with the adjacent sides disposed in close proximity whereby the collar of molten composition formed by the excess applied to 'said cylinder will contact the second roller and form a similar collar thereon, means for supplying molten composition'onto said cylinder to form said first mentioned collar thereon whereby the latter moves progressively from the upper to the lower end of said roller, and means for rotating saidroller and cylinder.

'7. The method of coating inking rollers with a thin film of printers composition comprising supporting a plurality of rollers to turn about substantially parallel axes inclined relative to the horizontal with the peripheral surfaces of the rollersrdisposed so that the excess of molten composition applied to one roller will drain oiT onto the other roller, rotating the rollers, directing onto one of said rollers a stream of molten composition to apply to each unit area of the roller surface a quantity of composition many times in excess of that required to form a film of the desired thickness, and relatively moving said stream and said rollers lengthwise of said axes beginning at the upper end thereof whereby to subject the entire roller surface to said stream, the excess of molten composition draining from said one roller onto a corresponding portion of the other roller.

8. The method of coating inking rollers with a thin film of printers composition comprising supporting a plurality of rollers to turn about substantially parallel axes inclined relative to the horizontal and with the adjacent portions of the rollers disposed in close proximity so that a collar of molten composition formed on one roller will engage a corresponding portion of the other roller, rotating the rollers in unison, directing onto one of said rollers molten composition fiowing at a rate sufficient to form a collar of composition which progresses down along the roller,

relatively moving said rollers and the point of application of composition lengthwise of said axes beginning at the upper end thereof whereby to subject the entire surface of one roller to an excess of molten :omposition, the other roller being similarly coated by the excess of molten composition applied to the first roller.

9. The method of coating rollers with a film of printers composition which comprises rotating a plurality of rollers with the latter supported one above the other and inclined to permit of natural drainage of molten composition from the surface of one roller onto the surface of the other roller at a point ofiset laterally from the roller center, and directing a stream of molten printers composition onto the first roller at a pointsimilarly oflset from the roller center, advancing the stream progressively from the upper to the lower end of the first roller, said other roller being simultaneously coated by the excess of composition draining from the first roller.

10. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in inclined position, means rotatably supporting a second roller to turn about an axis extending substantially parallel to the first roller and disposed therebelow so that all of the excess of molten composition draining from the under side of thefirst roller will be directed onto a substantially corresponding longitudinal portion of the other roller, means for rotating said rollers in unison, an applicator mounted for movement lengthwise of said rollers for directing a continuous stream of molten composition onto the upper roller, the rate of flow being such that the amunt of composition applied to each unit area is substantially in excess of that required to form a film of the desired thickness, the second roller-being coated simultaneously with the first roller by the excess of composition draining from the under side thereof, and means for moving said applicator from the upper to the lower end of the rotating rollers.

11. Apparatus for coating inking rollers with printers composition having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in inclined position, means rotatably supporting a second roller below and substantially parallel to the first roller but offset relative thereto both laterally and longitudinally whereby the excess of molten composition draining from the under side of the first roller will be directed onto the other roller and the upper end of the lower roller projects beyond the upper roller, means for rotating said rollers in unison, an applicator mounted for movement lengthwise of said rollers for directing a stream of molten composition onto said rollers substantially in excess of that required to form a film of the desired thickness, and means for moving said applicator from the upper to the lower end of the rotating rollers along a path such that the stream first strikes said projecting end of the lower roller and then contacts the upper roller and travels throughout the length of the latter, the remaining portion of the lower roller being coated simultaneously by the excess of composition draining from the under side of the upper roller.

12. Apparatus for coating inking rolls with a composition which congeals on cooling from a molten state having, in combination, means rotatably supporting a roller to be coated in a position inclined relative to the horizontal to permit of natural drainage of molten composition lengthwise thereof, means rotatably supporting a second roller adjacent to and inclined in the same direction as said first roller and positioned for the transfer onto successive portions of the second roller the excess of molten composition initially applied to the corresponding portions of the first roller, an applicator mounted for movement along the rollers and operable -to apply molten composition onto the first roller progressively from the upper to the lower end thereof in an amount substantially in excess of that required to form a finished film of a desired thickness on both of said rollers.

13. The method of simultaneously coating a plurality of rollers with films of printers composition comprising rotating a. plurality of rollers about their longitudinal axes with the latter inclined in the same direction relative to the horizontal to permit of natural drainage of molten composition lengthwise of the rollers, flowing molten composition onto one of said rollers progressively from the upper to the lower end thereof in an amount substantially inexcess or that required toform the finished films on both of said rollers, and transferring the excess of molten composition applied to successive portions of said first roller to corresponding portions of the other roller progressively from the upper to the lower end of the latter.

FRANK H. MARSHALL. 

